Research: Metallurgy
The metallurgy group has expertise in physical, mechanical and powder metallurgy, its research is supported by state-of-the-art experimental facilities and covers ferrous and non-ferrous alloys and composites and has close ties with a large number of companies from multinational to SME, all of whom stimulate and enhance the group´s research output. Our research is entirely industrially relevant, some on the short term while other aspects are higher risk and address longer term issues associated with, e.g., new disruptive processing technologies. A substantial part of the research is conducted in IMMPETUS and enjoys widespread international acclaim for our unique approach to thermomechanical processing of metals. Initially, the research done within IMMPETUS focused almost entirely on steel, with some aspects of aluminium; now, the major focus of the metallurgy group is (i) on high value-added process routes, particularly for the aerospace sector, of high performance Ti alloys, Ni base superalloys and wrought magnesium alloys and (ii) to develop physical understanding, combined with modelling to give a unique hybrid methodology with unprecedented precision for prediction of microstructure as a function of process condition. New research programmes are under way to develop high temperature alloys as potential alternatives to Ni superalloys and metallic biomaterials. Another new activity is near net-shape processing through powder injection moulding, laser and electron beam deposition, with direct involvement from aerospace sector companies. The group has achieved a high profile international reputation for the quality and innovation of its research.
View the Innovative Metals Processing Centre here
Selected Projects
- IMMPETUS Phase 3: A New Framework for Hybrid Through-Process Modelling, Process Simulation and Optimisation in the Metals Industry (EPSRC) £4,577,550
- Modern metals processing: transfer of knowledge and core skills to new and emerging technologies (EPSRC) £881,440
- Microstructure and strain path during hot deformation (NPL) £90,000
- Prediction of Structural Unit Size and Texture in the Hot Processing of Ti Alloys (TIMET) £90,000
- Innovative Metals Processing Centre (Yorkshire Forward) £2,126,400
- Programme to develop Ti powder injection moulding technology (KTP) £217,694
Key publications
- C. Rodenburg & W.M. Rainforth. (2007). A quantitative analysis of the influence of carbides size distributions on wear behaviour of high speed steel in dry rolling/sliding contact, Acta Mater., 55(7), 2443-2454.
- W.M. Rainforth, M.P. Black, R.L. Higginson, E.J. Palmiere, C.M. Sellars, I. Pabst, P. Warbichler & F. Hofer. (2002). Precipitation of NbC in a Model Austenitic Steel, Acta Materialia, 50, 735-747.
- G. Shao and P. Tsakiropoulos. (1994). Prediction of Metastable Phase Formation during Rapid Solidification by Time Dependent Nucleation Theory, Acta Metall. Mater., 42, 2937-2942.
- S.I. Vooijs, S.B. Davenport, I. Todd and S. van der Zwaag. (2001). Monitoring the precipitation reactions in a cold rolled Al-Mn-Mg-Cu alloy using thermoelectric power and electrical resistivity measurements, Philosophical Magazine A, 81, 2059-2072.
- B. Dutta and E.J. Palmiere. (2003). Effect of Prestrain and Deformation Temperature on the Recrystallisation Behaviour of Nb Microalloyed Steels, Metall. Trans., 34, 1237-1247.
- K.C. Mills, Y. Su, A.B. Fox, Z. Li, R.P. Thackray and H.T. Tsai. (2005). A Review of Slag Splashing, ISIJ International, Vol 45, No 5, 619-663.
- Kubota, Masahiro; and Wynne, B. P. (2007). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis of mechanically milled and spark plasma sintered pure aluminium, Scripta Materialia, 57, 719–722.
People
- Professor Mark Rainforth, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, research centres on the deformation of metals, tribology and the characterisation of metals and ceramics at high spatial resolution.
- Professor Panos Tsakiropoulos, Professor of Metallurgy and POSCO Chair in Iron and Steel Technology, research centres on the design of ferrous and non-ferrous alloys and composites for the energy, transport and aerospace industries via process-microstructure-property studies.
- Dr Iain Todd, Reader in Metallurgy, research interests include the study of both structural and functional material properties in structures where microstructural and physical property length scales are comparable.
- Dr Eric Palmiere, Senior Lecturer in Metallurgy, research involves the microstructural evolution, and the subsequent development of mechanical properties, during the thermomechanical processing of both ferrous and nonferrous alloys.
- Dr Brad Wynne, Senior Lecturer in Metallurgy, research interests focus on the thermomechanical processing of metals and alloys.
- Dr Russell Goodall, Lecturer in Materials Science, research interests are in the processing, mechanical thermal properties and applications of open-celled porous metals.
- Dr Richard Thackray, Corus Lecturer in Steel Making, main research interests are in continuous casting of steel, effect of secondary steelmaking on cleanness of steel, and studies on oxide/refractory interactions in steelmaking.